Swimmers make a huge splash in city galas
Wavertree Aquatics Centre hosted two fantastic swimming galas today as both able-bodied and disability swimmers took centre stage on a thrilling day of competition.
During the morning session, children from five Severe Learning Disability (SLD) schools took part in a gala which gave SLD swimmers the opportunity to compete against each other over 25m in the breaststroke, backstroke and freestyle strokes.
In a truly inspirational event, swimmers with the most severe disabilities were given help and support from staff to ensure they finished each race.
Organiser Jess McNally from the Liverpool Schools Sports Partnership called it “one of the best events we’ve ever been involved in”, adding “it just shows what can be achieved when you are given the opportunity to shine”.
In the afternoon, five qualifying schools battled it out for the right to be crowned KS3 (Years 7,8&9) swimming champions of Liverpool with St Margaret’s winning the boys’ competition and Belvedere Academy clinching the silverware for the girls.
The girls and boys’ races were held at the same time and all were extremely close, with Calderstones School finishing runners up in both competitions and just a few points away from the gold medal position.
There were a number of top performers on display – including many club swimmers – with City of Liverpool’s Katana Rumble particularly impressive throughout.
- A swimmer pushed herself forward
- The standard was extremely high throughout the gala
- It’s going to be a close finish
- One of the many talented performers on display
- The girls and boys races were combined
- This Calderstones pupil shows good form
- Butterfly action with St Edwards
- Lane 5 gets a flying start!
- Lots of power is generated in the freestyle
- Freestyle action
- A number of swimmers represented the City of Liverpool Swimming Club
- A breath between strokes in the freestyle
- The gun sounds
- Brilliant technique from young star
- Secondary Schools girls’ winners Belvedere Academy
- Birthday girl Grace, the team mascot for Millstead School
- Great determination
- A swimmer heads down the pool
- Breaststroke action from the morning gala
- Nearly there
- A winning smile
- Great technique in the freestyle in the SLD gala
- A finger tip finish
- A smile which sums up the gala
- Sport for all
- Great effort from young swimmer
- Thumbs up from this happy swimmer
- Backstroke action
- Great technique was a feature of both galas
- A swimmer waits for the backstroke to begin
- A delighted swimmer in full flow
- We did it!
- Encouragement and support was always nearby
- The SLD swimmers had a fantastic time at the morning gala
- Smiling all the way to the end
- A helping hand
- Staff provided great support to the swimmers
- The calm before the storm
- Neck and neck!
- It’s a very tight finish
- Action from the backstroke event
- A swimmer takes a deep breath
- Action from the secondary schools’ gala
- Preparing for the starter’s gun
- One of St Edwards’ swimmers wins his heat
- Breaststroke action
- Katana Rumble was a star performer
- A supporter looks on from the balcony
- On your marks…
- A swimmer dives in during the relay races
- Millstead School’s brilliant swim team
- The teams received lots of support
- The galas were held at Wavertree Aquatics Centre